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Blogging about and sharing children's books.

​The Antlered Ship by Dashka Slater

24/6/2018

5 Comments

 
​The Antlered Ship by Dashka Slater
Illustrated by The Fan Brothers.
Published 2017 by Simon & Schuster
 
‘The Antlered Ship’ was released in 2017 but I’ve only just come across it and I am so pleased that I have as it is a stunning book quickly becoming a firm favourite. 
 
I have long thought that the best books, being a fan of fantasy novels, start with a map.  The endpapers of this book certainly do not disappoint. 
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​I love chatting about maps like this with students and the place names on this one will really capture their imagination.
 
‘The Antlered Ship’ has a fox, Marco, as its hero.  Marco’s head is filled with questions to which he cannot find an answer.  The questions are deep and concern matters of the universe that woodland animals just do not have the knowledge or inclination to answer. He wonders why trees can’t talk, why some songs make you happy and some make you sad.  All of these questions and more fill up Marco’s day so when the opportunity arises for him to head off into the big wide world aboard ‘The Antlered Ship’ he jumps at the chance to explore and to try and find the answers to his ponderings, he thinks that if he finds some more foxes then they will be able to furnish him with the answers.
 
Unfortunately for the crew of the ship, the seas are rough the skies are filled with storms.  The voyage is not the splendorous adventure that they had imagined. The crew of deer, foxes and pigeons do not make the best sailors but they learn to make the most of it and after looking at the charts together.  They decide to head for ‘Sweet Tree Island.’
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On the journey they meet, battle and chase off a motley crew of pirates.  It is this image that I think is fantastic and would inspire some great descriptive writing from students. ​
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Eventually, Marco and the other creatures reach their destination and we see ultimately what the book is about.  The story is about friendship and how to make friends. At the end of the story, Marco thinks that he has failed because he has not found any foxes to answer his questions. 
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At the end, as he watches the sunset with his companions Marco discovers the secret to making friends and I think I agree with Victor.  ‘You make friends by going on adventures together.’ and it is on another adventure that they decide to go.
 
This book will make a great class read for children aged 6 and upwards.  There are lots of discussions to be had around the characters, around Marco’s questions and about making friends.  There are also many writing opportunities to be exploited. 
 
Writing Opportunities
  • Character descriptions of the woodland creatures and the pirates.
  • Describe the ship.
  • Create an original story from the maps and charts.
  • Write plausible answers to Marco’s questions.
  • Keep a ships log in role of Marco or Sylvia.
  • Write a letter home from Marco to someone who didn’t come on the voyage.
  • Write an explanation or instructions about how to make friends. 

Also by Dashka Slater

Other books illustrated by The Fan Brothers 

Reviews of these books will be coming soon. 
5 Comments

The Wolf The Duck & The Mouse

18/6/2018

1 Comment

 
Written by Mac Burnett and Illustrated by Jon Klassen
Published 2017 by Walker Books. 

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 I will start at the end of this tale.  A wolf sits and howls at the moon, “Oh woe! Oh woe!” because he is a very woeful beast indeed.  And the reason he feels so sorry for himself is because inside his stomach a duck and a moue are having a disco in the place that they like to call home. 

​For the duck and the mouse, it was a chance encounter for they both were both swallowed by the wolf at the same time and whilst the mouse thinks it is the end for him the duck has no intention of being eaten.  In fact, he has decided to make the best of the situation as he is now in a safe place and doesn’t need to be worried about constant threat of wolves anymore.
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All is fine for the two squatters and they live a comfortable life inside the wolf until the wolf becomes the hunted and needs to run for his life.  Once entangled in the forest undergrowth the wolf is trapped and easy prey for the hunter.  His inhabitants take it upon themselves to protect their host and chase the hunter away.  Readers will enjoy the image of the mouse, astride the ducks back, flying out of the wolf’ mouth wearing his cooking pot helmet and brandishing his hockey stick as a weapon.  

Once they have chased the hunter away, the wolf bows down in thanks to the mouse and the duck pledging to grant any request that they have.  This is reason why the wolf sits howling at the moon, “Oh woe! Oh woe!” because there are two small creatures having a disco in his stomach.
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Mac Burnett tells a wonderful story which, due to the traditional characters who feature, has a fairy-tale feel about it that is reinforced by the traditional language used.  The fable explains why the wolf howls at the moon but also teaches the reader that those of us who have a positive and flexible outlook on life will flourish – just like the duck.

Klassen’s artwork complements the story perfectly, he leaves behind the minimalism of ‘Triangle’ and ‘Square’ and adopts a more ‘painterly’ style.  The wolf has a look of Klassen’s fox in ‘Pax’ by Sarah Pennypacker but he seems to be a little less refined.
 
There is little doubt in my mind that this book is worthy of its place on the shortlist on the Klaus Flugge Prize.  

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1 Comment

The Lion Inside by Rachel Bright and Jim Field

7/4/2018

2 Comments

 
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This book takes the form of a fantastic narrative poem. Mouse is timid and meek. So small that no one ever notices him. Mouse knows he needs to be more like Lion so he summons up the courage to talk to Lion 🦁 but when Lion awakes he’s in for a shock for Lion is scared of mice!

That day they both find out that no matter your size we all have a 
🦁 and 🐭 inside.

Great for class discussion and assemblies for children of all ages. 4-11

​Find this book on Amazon here.

2 Comments

The Whale by Ethan and Vita Murrow

7/4/2018

0 Comments

 
An adventure told through pencil sketches. This beautifully illustrated almost wordless book tells a rip roaring adventure of one brother and sister in search of a giant whale. Newspaper cut-outs set the story and the children set out to prove that the whale exists. The two children build their own boat but sadly all is not plain sailing.

​Will the two adventurers find the giant whale? If they do then be assured that The Murrows monotone drawings will bring it to life majestically. A stunning read for ages 8+

​Find this book on Amazon here.

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0 Comments

A Child of Books by Oliver Jeffers and Sam Winston.

7/4/2018

0 Comments

 
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A child of books can float upon their own imagination. They can travel over ‘mountains of make believe’ and ‘discover treasure in the darkness.’ The book explores all of the fantasy lands which a good book will create for its reader. 📚 A beautifully illustrated book to share when telling children about the magic of books.

​Find it on Amazon here
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'A child of books can venture to many lands.'

0 Comments

‘Crescent Moons and Pointed Minarets’

4/4/2018

0 Comments

 
I’ve just finished ‘Crescent Moons and Pointed Minarets’ courtesy of @chroniclebooks.

​It is a great book which ties together elements and symbols of Islam with mathematical shapes. For example, octagon is the pool in which to wash for Wudu, circle is a daff and hexagon is a tile painted with an ayah.

his would be a great book to share with younger children who are learning about shapes in maths and/or about Islam in RE. Applause to the ingenuity of its author Hena Khan.

Check out this book on Amazon here 

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0 Comments

Everything you need for a treehouse.

30/3/2018

3 Comments

 
I always wanted a treehouse but never had one! I should have read this wondrous book by Carter Higgins and Emily Hughes.
as then I would have known that everything I needed was all around me. I just needed some time and to look up!

This book is a poetic, nostalgic romp through the woods into every adventurer’s childhood soul.

Wonderfully illustrated, it evokes a timeless fantasy of escapism that will bring joy to young and old alike.
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Find this book on Amazon here.
3 Comments

The Many Worlds of Albie Bright by Christopher Edge

6/3/2018

0 Comments

 
Enjoyed this one and I'm sure children aged 10-11 plus will too. When Albie’s scientist mum dies of cancer. Albie vows to see here again when he hears about parallel universes.

With the aid of his neighbours cat, a quantum computer, a Geiger counter and a decomposing banana Albie travels to various parallel worlds to try and find one in which his mum is still alive.

​Funny at times, heartbreaking at others but ultimately heart-warming. A great addition to any class library! We’ll definitely be picking up 
@christopheredge’s other adventures.


Find this book on Amazon here. 
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0 Comments

What not to do if you turn invisible by Ross Welford

28/2/2018

2 Comments

 
Ethel Leatherhead is a 12 year old girl with acne. She has tried everything to get rid of her zits but nothing has worked, until a combination of Chinese medicine and some time in a second hand sunbed make them disappear. In fact they make everything disappear.... Ethel Leatherhead becomes invisible.

Being invisible can be fun but when Ethel’s secret is discovered by, the deliciously named twin
s Jesmond and Jarrow Knight, then being invisible becomes infinitely more onerous.

Read the book to find out how Ethel unravels the mystery of a dog-napping epidemic and discovers some truths about her parents and why she lives with her grandmother. Recommended for ages 9-13.#strongfemalecharacter 

​@rossswelford has produced another corker!  Find this book on Amazon here.
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2 Comments

Little Red Reading Hood by Lucy Rowland and Ben Mantle.

18/2/2018

2 Comments

 
Little Red Reading Hood loves books, she isn’t going to her grandmother’s house but off to the library. The wolf meets her there - he has done away with the librarian. Little Red helps him see the error of his ways through the magic of books.

Recommended for all children in the primary range. 


Published by MacMillan

​Click the book cover for more information
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